Richard N. Eisen, MD, FCAP
Richard N. Eisen, MD, FCAP, is honored for his compassionate care of cancer patients and for his volunteerism in his community to help educate residents on the importance of cancer prevention. Nominated by Richard R. Gomez, MD, FCAP, Dr. Eisen established the immunohistochemistry section in the laboratory at Greenwich hospital, offering state of the art testing in tumor diagnosis. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Eisen’s care of patients continues, as he gives his time to help educate middle school students on health effects of smoking.

Kathleen A. McMonigal, MD, FCAP
Recognized for her expertise and devotion to patients “on and off the ground” through the NASA space program, Kathleen A. McMonigal, MD, FCAP, was nominated for this award by Pamela S. Bullock, MD, FCAP. In her role as director of Clinical Laboratories, Dr. McMonigal not only attends each landing of the space shuttle, but assures the integrity and safe keeping of the astronauts’ medical specimens. She inventoried and organized a retrieval system for all astronaut specimens held by NASA since the 1960s and developed a protocol for astronauts to obtain their own specimens. Dr. McMonigal also was instrumental in setting medical standards for astronaut selection prior to review by the Aerospace Medicine Board.

Margaret H. Neal, MD, FCAP
Nominated by Jonathan L. Myles, MD, FCAP, Margaret H. Neal, MD, FCAP, is honored for her leadership in the development of the CAP Mentor Program and her significant contributions leading to the program’s success. The mentor program was designed to provide guidance from seasoned pathologists to pathologists new to the specialty to help them improve their skills in order to provide better patient care.

Melinda Moore Lewis, MD, FCAP
Recognized for her devotion to patients and her fellow, clinical colleagues, Melinda Moore Lewis, MD, FCAP, was nominated for this award by Kelly Rose, MD, a former anatomic and clinical pathology resident and current fellow in forensic pathology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Often spending more than 12 hours per day in the hospital, Dr. Lewis spends as much time as needed with her patients and their families to ensure an accurate diagnosis is made. Recently, she performed an emergency biopsy on a young patient at Emory who had a neck mass and a large mass in his chest that compromised his breathing. Because of her quick and accurate diagnosis, this patient was able to begin treatment immediately for malignant lymphoma. In addition, Dr. Lewis often personally calls her fellow clinicians with important cytology results...often by cell phone while walking from one patient to the next.

Patricia M. Novak, DO, FCAP
Patricia M. Novak, DO, FCAP, from Troy, Michigan, was nominated for the 2009 CAP Pathologist Spotlight Service Award by her colleague and the Vice Chief of Laboratory Services Emily E. Volk, MD, FCAP, on behalf of her colleagues at William Beaumont Hospital. She received the award for her dedication to the specialty of pathology, and especially her devotion to improving communication within the hospital and with her clinical colleagues. Most recently, Dr. Novak participated in an advisory role in efforts to improve diagnostic reporting through the electronic medical record system at William Beaumont Hospital. In addition, she has offered guidance and practice updates to treating physician colleagues especially in regards to cytology diagnostic reporting and utilization of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.

Richard A. Smith, MD, PhD, FCAP
Seeing a need to streamline communications between the medical staff, Richard
A. Smith, MD, PhD, FCAP, from Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, Massachusetts,
established weekly meetings for doctors to come together to discuss individual
patient cases. His multidisciplinary approach of diagnosing patients through
this round table format and consultation with multiple teams of experts has
earned praise from both physicians and patients. He was nominated for the CAP
Pathologists Spotlight Service Award by Kim A. Collins, MD, FCAP, a member of
the College’s Public Affairs Committee who recognized Dr. Smith’s
innovative approach to treating patients.

Mary R. Schwartz, MD, FCAP
Mary R. Schwartz, MD, FCAP, from Houston, Texas, was named a recipient of the Pathologist Spotlight Service Award for “leading by example” and serving as a role model for her residents. As the head of Anatomic Pathology and the director of the Surgical Pathology Fellowhip at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, Dr. Schwartz not only teaches her residents important diagnostic skills, but also teaches them that what they do directly impacts patients and that the patients’ best interests come first. She was nominated by her residents John J. Cangelosi, MD; Kyle L. Eskue, MD; and Jerad M. Gardner, MD.

Richard B. Mertens, MD, PhD, FCAP
Passionate, caring, a devoted physician—these are just a few words that describe Richard B. Mertens, MD, PhD, FCAP, a recipient of the CAP Pathologist Spotlight Service award. He was nominated for the award for his commitment to patients through the delivery of outstanding diagnostic medicine and his expertise in gastrointestinal, breast, bone, and soft tissue pathology. Nominated for the award by his colleague Hanlin L. Wang, MD, PhD, FCAP, director of Gastrointestinal Pathology and of the Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Pathology Fellowship Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Dr. Mertens is also a dedicated teacher for residents and fellows at his hospital.

Maria M. Picken, MD, PhD, FASN, FCAP
Serving as a medical advisor for the Amyloidosis Support Groups, Maria M. Picken, MD, PhD, FASN, FCAP, was nominated for the CAP Pathologist Spotlight Service Award by Muriel Dr. president of the national organization, which provides support to patients affected with this rare and potentially fatal disease. Dr. Picken educates patients who are affected by amyloidosis and their families, so that patients can evaluate treatment options and make lifestyle changes if necessary.

Dennis D. Reinke, MD, FCAP
Dennis D. Reinke, MD, FCAP, from Wichita Falls, Texas, is honored as the first recipient of the Pathologist Spotlight Service Award given by the College of American Pathologists. Dr. Reinke was nominated for the award by his colleague Yvonne Hearn, MD, FCAP. The award was established to recognize CAP members who exhibit transformative behavior and deliver exceptional service to their patients and community through the specialty of pathology.